Two-thirds of Americans support President Obama’s initiative, announced this week, that would increase the reach of federal criminal background checks for those purchasing firearms at gun shows or on-line, according to a new national CNN/Opinion Research poll.

The president’s bid to close the “gun show loophole” is backed by a 67-32 percent margin, although only 41 percent of those polled believe it will serve to reduce the scourge of gun violence in America.

The support for Obama’s plan, which would also coordinate data to better enforce existing firearms laws, is across the board: 85 percent of Democrats back it, along with 65 percent of independent voters surveyed. Fifty-one percent of Republicans voiced support, despite denunciations coming from their party’s presidential candidates and leadership on Capitol Hill.

The president’s initiative won support from 57 percent of gun owners surveyed, and 56 percent of rural Americans. The poll was taken Jan. 5 and 6, and involved interviews with 1,027 adult Americans. It has a margin of error of plus/minus 3 percent.

Still, Obama is a controversial president and the numbers show it. Just 43 percent approve of how he has handled the gun- safety issue. In a late fall poll, Quinnipiac University found 93 percent of Americans voicing support for background checks.

And a divided country is divided on the gun issue. Thirty-eight percent said Obama has gone “too far” in his gun initiatives, 31 percent agreed those actions are “about right,” while 30 percent believe the 44th oresident has not gone far enough.

The CNN/ORC survey produced one other striking finding.

The National Rifle Association and other Gun Lobby groups have enjoyed vast influence and great power in Congress and state legislatures. The power has been rooted in the intensity of gun-rights advocates, and the lobby’s ability to raise a red flag that the feds are coming to “take our guns.”

Inslee: “I’ve watched Congress fail for years to make progress on this issue.”

The intensity factor may be swinging away from the Gun Lobby. CNN/ORC found strong support for Obama’s initiative by 43 percent of those surveyed, twice the 21 percent voicing strong opposition.

Washington voted by 60 percent in 2014 for Initiative 594, which requires criminal background checks for those purchasing guns online, at gun shows or in private transactions.

In announcing his own firearms enforcement and anti-suicide initiative this week, Gov. Jay Inslee flayed Congress for its inaction on gun safety. Inslee is up for reelection this year.

“I’ve watched Congress fail for years to make any kind of progress on this issue,” Inslee said. “In fact, they’re passed laws prohibiting even basic research and data collection on gun violence in America. Yet, while Congress protects the status quo of everyday gun violence, cities, counties and states are moving forward with sensible policies to reduce firearms fatalities.”